Medieval Swords & Replica   Looking for Cool Replica Swords?

A lot of collectors, buy simple sword for their looks, other are more limited due to their financial situation. If money is not an issue for you and that you love swords, you owe it to yourself to take a look at Albion Swords. I mean these swords are just amazing!

If you are not sure about what i am saying, do your own research and find out what others think bout these swords. There is a reason why they are so expensive and i can tell you they are the real deal. If my life would depend on a sword fight, i would certainly have one of those by my side…

The medieval period was a period when various parts of the world were ruled by monarchs. The era was characterized by a large number of battles to gain supremacy over each other. This led to creation of many interesting weapons to help the soldiers and knights in the war. Right from the barbarians to the knights in the shining armor, all of them needed various kinds of weapons to fight either over a long distance or in close proximity.

This gave rise to a large number of warfare weapons ranging from knives to warships. The types of weapons that were used were daggers and knives, swords, spears and various types of bows. Each of these weapons in a weapons collector’s collection will be a matter of pride.

The cinquedea is an interesting weapon available for the collectors. This weapon was used as a warfare weapon and also as a civilian weapon. The weapon that was born in Italy was famous during the 15th and 16th centuries as a short sword or a long dagger. This weapon that compensates for a long sword has a heavy blade which is up to 45 cms in length.  It has a tapered end which is almost round. Civilians used this for decorative etching and warriors use this as a close range thrust weapon.

An ear dagger can also add pride to a weapon collection. This dagger which was introduced by Spain to the other European countries has a pommel that is shaped like an ear. This exotic and rare dagger has a blade with single edge sharpened and was used in mostly during the middle ages.

The baselard is also another interesting weapon which falls under the category of dagger. This weapon which has a crossguard and pommel shaped like a crescent is also called as Swiss dagger.  The length of the blade of the baselard ranges between 40 cms to 70 cms and was popular among the Swiss pikemen during the 15th and 16th centuries.

A stiletto is a knife or a dagger like weapon with a long and slender blade. The stiletto, because of its narrow shape and pointed end, was used as a thrusting weapon. There were several versions of the stilettos that were used during World War I and World War II. This is an easily concealable weapon and hence was used by many assassins.

When it comes to Viking swords, they were, above all things, what represent the warriors of the Viking age. One can call it a mark of these warriors, and it was a rare and valuable mark at that, considering that these swords were not a common thing to warriors. They were, at that time, one of the most expensive things that could be owned by a person. They were so valuable that they were treated as valuable family heirlooms, being passed from one generation to another, usually from the male ascendants to their male descendants.

Viking swords & weapons also varied in appearance from that of the conventional sword. Viking swords were characterized to be double edged, which means that both edges of the blade were sharp. The swords were also held with a single hand, since the other hand would be holding a shield. Initially, the blades of these swords averaged at around 70 cm long, but later on increased in length up to 100 cm in the late Viking era. As for the width, the blade was about 4-6 cm wide. Adding the weight of the pommel and hilt which helped balance the blade, a typical Viking sword would weigh about 1-2 kilos.

Aside from the Cold Steel Viking sword, which was a modern reproduction of the traditional Viking sword, many have also sought replicas of particular Viking swords that gained fame because of who used them. An example of which would be the Beowulf sword replica, which resembled the prop that was used in the movie Beowulf, which was based off a very old epic poem. Another literary based replica would be the Historical Excalibur Sword, based off the classic story of King Arthur.

Other Viking swords were based off famous historical battles such as the Sticklestad Viking Sword, made after the historical Battle of Stiklestad which took place in a village municipality of Verdal, Norway.

And then there are also generic variations of the Viking sword such as the Swedish Viking sword, an apparent variation of the sword that originated from Sweden, but still very much a Viking sword in general.

If you have any intention of becoming an expert sword collector, there is one expert you should really try to learn from. His name? Ewart Oakeshott.

Mr Oakeshott died in 2002 but there is a vast array of books written by this master to help you learn more about medieval swords and weapons. Here are some you might want to read:

1. Records of Medieval Sword
2. The Sword in the Age of Chivalry
3. Sword in Hand:: A history of the Medieval sword
4. The Archaeology of Weapons: Arms and Armour from Prehistory to the age of Chivalry
5. Swords of the Viking Age
6. The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England: Its Archaeology and Literature

Other books from the Oakeshott’s “Knight” Series:

1. A Knight and His Weapons
2. A Knight in Battle
3. A knight and His Armor
4. A Knight and His Castle
5. A Knight and His Horse

Later Period Sword books:

1. European Weapons and Armour: From the Renaissance to the industrial revolution

Of course, Mr Oakeshott is not the only author that wrote books about Medieval weapons, but he is by far one of the most prestigious. I feel reading these books will have you on the right track to become an expert.

P.S.: All of these books can be purchased at Amazon.com

When the word “Medieval” is heard, thoughts of kings, castles, knights and chivalry come to mind. These are concepts and practices that revolved around the lifestyles of those who lived during the middle ages, which lasted for over a millennium, roughly between the 5th and 16th centuries, which is a very long time indeed.

This is probably why the medieval weapons have become a very popular idea that went on even after the Middle Ages have elapsed simply because they have played a role too significant to world history to be ignored. In fact, one can even say that many cultures and practices in the modern world evolved directly from ideas first thought of during the middle ages.

When it came to weaponry, medieval weapons were generally meant to be heavy and sturdy such as heavy cavalries and knights wearing heavy suits of armor. While there were many variations to this due to varying cultures and resources, the idea was all the same. For instance, while the Damascus Viking Sword seemed much larger than the English Two-Hand Sword, the two were generally based off the Classic Medieval Sword having been forged with strong steel and built to match its heavily armored users.

Medieval weapons were also popularized in famous stories that were set in the middle ages, such as that of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table along with the Historical Excalibur Sword. Other classics that were recently depicted in films were Beowulf, featuring the Beowulf Sword.

Finally, the Medieval Swords also came in a wide variety of versions. Whether you are thinking about the Vikings, the Scottish or the British, at some point in time all parts of the world were able to make their own version of the medieval weaponry, which they used to their advantage in their own wars and military actions, which all went down to their own histories.

Because of all this, the medieval weapons have become a category of their own, and a highly sought after category at that by people from all walks of life such as collectors all the way down to the common reader.

I just wrote another small article about Medieval swords basic information. Please take the time to read it and learn a little bit more about the construction of these swords and how they evolved during the years.

Feel free to leave your comments, i always appreciate learning what you guys have to say..

Not all swords are made the same and that is why paying attention to details is so important when buying a sword. Bladed weapons are made for different purposes and whereas some are meant to only be displayed, others are suitable to be used as practice swords. Such practice swords must meet certain requirements in regards to materials and safety and therefore it is necessary to pay attention to what kind of sword is being purchased before actually using it someplace.

A practice sword is basically a fully functional sword that can withstand the impact of other objects or weapons and which also has sharp blades for cutting. These real swords can be used for many different purposes, such as for martial arts demonstrations, sword fights, practicing and even competitions. It is always worthwhile to get a good, well made sword if it is to be used because they not only are more resilient to breaking, but because they are easier to handle, are balanced and lightweight enough to be swung without causing any injury.

The reason the blade of a practice sword does not easily break is because it is made of different types of high carbon steel. This material, unlike the stainless steel used for display swords, is flexible and since claying methods results in different strengths the blade is optimized to cut and hit, as well as withstand impact. It is also important that the handle of the sword must be wrapped with a material that will not become slippery when wet with sweat, such as silk or leather.

Finding the right practice sword can be an overwhelming task to accomplish just because of the many different kinds of swords available. There are many websites that sell practice swords and it is worth the while to take the time to look through what is being offered. This way you can get an idea of all the different styles, sizes, weights and categories of practice swords that you can choose from. Not only can you choose between styles such as, for example, Viking or Samurai swords, but you can also decide if you want to use a one or two handed sword. Companies known for making high quality, reliable practice swords include Paul Chen, Thaitsuki Nihonto and Imperial Forge, but there are also many others.

When people think of the Middle Ages, then medieval swords are one of the first things associated with this period of time. There is good reason too, since swords were an essential part of life during this time period. Medieval swords are not all the same though, and they vary according to era, use and country or region of origin. There are basically enough kinds available of swords for every collector, taste and purpose.

The best thing to do once you are interesting in owning medieval swords is look at various websites that specialize in weapons. Many have a special category just for these swords and often have a wide variety available. There are, for example, two handed swords, katanas, cutlasses, rapiers, sabers, short and long swords, as well as flamberges or straight swords. Before deciding what kind of sword you want there are some things that have to be determined.

First of all, you have to know why you need the medieval sword, because many other factors are dependent upon this answer. For participating in medieval reenactments or sword fighting demonstrations you will need a medieval sword that is typical for the country and time period being displayed. For such reasons it is also necessary to have high carbon steel blades that is sharp and battle ready so that they don’t break while using them. This is important, not only because it is saddening to lose a great sword, but also to prevent injuries from broken pieces or a sharp broken edge of a blade. The materials used for the hilt, hand guard, pommel, decorations and handle also have to be of robust, high quality for medieval swords used for battles or demonstrations that take place outdoors so that they don’t rust, get lost or get ruined.

Collectors of medieval swords have a much easier time and have many more options open to them. If swords are to be put on display, then you can also purchase replica swords that have stainless steel blades since they will not be used. Collections can be limited to a country or particular era during the Middle Ages, or it can show the complete array. Important is that they are kept safe, out of reach from others and mounted correctly.

The Vikings were a group of Scandinavians who were merchants, explorers and pirates that were active from the 8th to 11th centuries. They were also known for their fighting expertise and of course swords played an important role. Viking swords can still be purchased today and there are many reasons that someone may want this particular weapon.

The Vikings played a major role in history during the Migration Period and so did their unique swords. Any Viking swords will have to include certain features in order to be put into this category and among the most important characteristics are a large, rounded pommel, a length of approximately 37 to 49 inches and patterns on the blade’s surface. Any collector of unique or historical swords should know all of this so that they can purchase the right weapon to complete a collection or add to one.

Viking swords make great displays, because they are ornate and the hilt and pommel are different from many other swords that have been seen throughout history. Especially the pommel should stand out since Viking swords had large ones that had elaborate decorations on them. The hilt is also unique because it is small, simple and always meant to be held with one hand. These swords can easily be mounted on plaques or stands so that they can be put on display for all to see.

However, role playing enthusiasts will also find that the Viking swords have many advantages that make them a great choice of weapon. Even if you don’t play the role of a Viking, their swords are still very useful and will fit in with the medieval look. Some of the main advantages of using a Viking sword for role playing or pretend battles is that it is long to keep your opponent at bay, lightweight, is a one handed weapon and is decorated with engravings on the blade and designs on the large pommel which can also be used as a weapon by hitting opponents.

A battle ready Viking sword should be chosen if you want to reenact battles. This is because the blade will be made of high carbon steel and sharpened. This material is sturdier and can absorb the energy created on impact with another weapon which means for you that it will not break right away.

A replica sword is one that is an exact copy of a real historical model or of a sword that was seen in a movie or book. Since there are many kinds of swords that can be copied, there is a wide variety to choose from. There are also just as many reasons to purchase a replica sword and those buying will have their own reason to want a particular sword for their collection.

Replica swords can be just about anything and therefore there are many collectors who would like to have one. Someone that has a collection of historical weapons can add something like a U.S. Heavy Cavalry saber or a Scottish sword to their displays, whereas a fantasy movie enthusiast who collects anything to do with Lord of the Rings will look for replica swords from those movies. Regardless of the reason or the category, replica swords are exact copies and always enhance and add to any collection of swords.

Even if the buyer of a cool replica sword does not have a collection, it can still make an excellent individual piece that can be displayed in a home or anywhere else. The quality of the replica sword should be good, but the materials used will depend on whether or not the sword is to be used for fighting, training or simply for display. A replica sword that is solely for display can be made of stainless steel, but that will not withstand a real battle and cannot be used to chop targets or thrust at them.

A replica sword that is an accessory or a vital part of a role playing theme should have a high carbon steel blade and a handle with a good wrapping on it. This way there is no chance of dropping the sword while simulating a fight and the blade will not break and crack upon impact with another weapon or target, such as pumpkin or bamboo sticks.

Since medieval replica swords are always based on a real model, they may also be a form of investment. There are many limited editions which are only available a short time and have a limited number made, signed or handcrafted pieces that come with a certificate of authenticity. There is a good chance that these will one day be worth more than you paid and so everything that comes with these has to be carefully kept.